In a cell below the sea, a man draws circles in plaster—and speaks of millions.

This chapter introduces one of the most important characters in The Count of Monte Cristo: the mysterious Abbé Faria. While Dantès pleads for reason, Faria appears to embody madness—but it’s a madness filled with structure, symbols, and startling clarity. With references to Archimedes and economic logic, Dumas positions Faria as a force of knowledge and obsession. He may seem broken—but he is, in truth, about to change everything.

Topics Covered:

•Introduction of the Abbé Faria

•The difference between Dantès’ and Faria’s survival strategies

•Madness as a form of resistance

•Classical allusions and intellectual imprisonment

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